Culture of mammary epithelial cells from bovine milk.

Mammary epithelial cells are exfoliated into cows' milk and comprise a component of the somatic cells enumerated for milk quality control. This paper described the finding that these epithelial cells can be recovered from milk and grown in culture. The cultured cells were characterized for growth rate and growth potential, morphology by light and electron microscopy, presence of esterases and cytokeratins, and sensitivity to storage at 4 degrees C. Cultured mammary epithelial cells from milk may be useful to dairy scientists and mammary gland biologists.